Octubre 2001 PACETTI and RIESS Endophytes of Serapias pa'iillora and Spiranthes spiralis


 Figure 8. S. parviflora hair massively invaded by B-
Sepa-1 (confocal laser microscope, x 40).


 Figure 7. A-Sepa-1 septal ultrastructure, with Woronin
bodies (TEM, x 45000).


 Figure 9. B-Sepa-1 pelotons in S. ptu'i/lrt root cor-
tex, stained by acid fuchsin (phase contrast microscope, x
40).

in pure cultures on PDA and in the hosts: in B-
Sepa-1 diameters are on average 2 mm, while in
A-Sepa-1 diameters are on average 3,5 mm.

 Conclusion. Endophytes isolation from roots of
Serapias parviflora reveals the presence of two
fungi. Our technique allows us to determine only
the division. A-Sepa-1 is an ascomycetes (presence
of Woronin bodies), and B-Sepa-1 is a basid-
iomycetes (presence of dolipores). We can also
recognize Riess and Scrugli morphometrical class-
es: A-Sepa-1 belongs to class B, with diameters of
hyphae ranging from 2,6 to 5 mm, while B-Sepa-1
belongs to class A, having hyphae with diameters
less than 2,5 mm. Molecular markers could certain-


 Figure 10. B-Sepa-1 partially digested pelotons in S.
pu'ifirii root,, stained by acid fuchsin (x 40 ).

ly provide diagnostic tools for lower taxonomical
levels and taxon fingerprints. .
 We can not tell if S. parviflora needs two fungi
simultaneously or in succession for its develop-
ment. Only observations of endophytes in samples
living in the same site could maybe answer this
question.
 A-Sepa-1 and B-Sepa-1 behave differently when
inoculated in plants of S. parviflora and Spiranthes
spiralis: B-Sepa-1, the basidiomycetes, is a good
symbiont for both orchids, i.e. it is always possible
to see all typical mycorrhizal phases, their cyclical
pattern and the absence of fungi in orchids root
vascular tissue. A-Sepa-1, the ascomycetes, is a
good symbiont only for S. parviflora, in this orchid
we can observe fungal confinement in the first
layer of root cortex, starch accumulation in the
inner layers, cyclic infections and absence of fungus
in vascular tissue. A-Sepa-1 is not tolerate by S. spi -
ralis: there is a massif epidermal penetration but